The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundation USA, with help from the Global Fund for Community Foundations, brought together a 13-page study on community philanthropy drawn from roundtable discussions by philanthropy leaders.

The study pointed out that community philanthropy should be a central feature in developing civil society and enhancing the effectiveness of developmental aid. Having local people involved as donors is a game-changer in efforts to build civil society, and enhances the prospects of sustainability of external funding when the program ceases. If successful, community philanthropy also leads to long lasting results by increasing local ownership and accountability. Yet, despite its potential, community philanthropy remains underdeveloped. The study recommends a joint program to develop the capacity of the field of community philanthropy, in order to be more effective with foundations and development agencies.

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